But God didn't just slide from the celestial to mortality. He slid from the highest political and social ranks of heaven to one of the humblest in this life. We forget that.
When I slide from a high to a low in life, His divine descent takes on a different dimension. I have noticed that Jesus was not angry or bitter at his meagre station or lack of comfort here. He was patient with life's inequities when it came to himself. He seemed to have had more important things on his mind.
I wonder what it would be like if he crossed the great divide -- the cultural, religious and time barriers that seperate us-- to be born here. Yes, I know that the scriptures focus primarily on a semitic Messiah coming to Judea, but that ancient world seems so distant. Nephi tells us to liken the scriptures to us, and in doing so I cannot help but wonder what Jesus would be like before his 3-year ministry if he were here among us...
If Jesus lived in modern America as he did in Galilee, he'd be quite poor. He would wear beat-up old jeans and a frayed tee shirt with holes in it. He'd repair leaky roofs or work at WalMart to try to pay for basics when he did have work. With little schooling, he’d also be largely self-taught. He wouldn't drive a Taurus. He'd depend daily on the public transportation system, friends and members of his ward to drive him from point A to point B. He'd be born of a picked on, conquered and downtrodden people. Being born black in the South during the 40s would fit. But if you were lucky to be able to see inside of that poor, plain exterior you just might see the light beaming out in all its splendor and glory. Or, you might see nothing at all.
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